Student Research
David (Daeyoung) Lee
Graduate Student, Physics
University of Illinois
Statistical Realizations of Accretion Disks
Based on an established understanding of the correlation function and power spectrum of fluctuations in accretion disks from local shearing box models, the current focus is to generate parametrized global realizations using that statistical information via Gaussian random fields. Gaussian random fields have nice statistical properties and are fast to generate, so unlike simulations, which are computationally expensive, we’re able to generate a large number of realizations and explore the parameter space more fully.
Shitij Seth
Undergraduate, Mathematics
University of Arizona
Time-variability of the M87 Black Hole
Application of Gaussian Processes to extrapolate and analyze time-series data like closure phase from EHT 2017 observations to study the evolution of the M87 black hole.
Kaushik Satapathy
Graduate, Physics
University of Arizona
Variability in GRMHD Simulations
GRMHD simulations of horizon scale environments of black holes provide vital insights into the physics of plasmas in these environments. We can connect the physics in the simulations to the observed data by understanding synthetic data of interferometric observables constructed from the simulations. I attempt to infer the level of time variability in closure phases (an interferometric observable) in GRMHD simulations and constraint the parameter space of the simulations using closure phase observations.